Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization created to advocate for affordable energy policies for moderate and low-income Ohioans.  Sixty OPAE member agencies provide essential energy services, including bill payment assistance, weatherization and energy efficiency, and housing services to over 400,000 households statewide annually. OPAE conducts education and training programs for nonprofit agencies.  OPAE also manages energy efficiency and bill payment assistance programs for low-income households, as well as providing consulting and research services to public and private organizations on a variety of energy-related topics.  

OPAE members operate numerous programs supporting children and families from Head Start to adult education, job training and financial literacy, child nutrition and meals on wheels, and medical and dental clinics, among many others. 

OPAE and its member agencies deliver the following energy programs: 

• The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP),  a federally-funded program known in Ohio as HEAP;
• The Percentage Income Payment Program (PIPP), a payment program that permits households with incomes under 150% of the poverty guideline to retain utility service by paying 15% of their income for service;
• The OPAE Fuel Fund, using $137,500 provided by Dominion East Ohio;
• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HWAP), a federally-funded program that achieves among the highest average savings (25%) of any program in the country;
• The WarmChoice® Program, a weatherization initiative funded by Columbia Gas of Ohio;
• The Housewarming Program, funded by Dominion East Ohio;
• The Community Connections Program, an electric energy efficiency and repair program funded by FirstEnergy Corp.;
• The Smart Energy Community Program, funded by the Dayton Power & light Company;
• The Northeast Ohio Gas Program, funded by Northeast Ohio Gas;
• The TEEM Program, funded by Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio; and,
• Weatherization and energy efficiency activities funded by Dayton Power & Light, Cincinnati Gas & Electric and the Ohio Department of Development.

OPAE is an active participant in cases filed before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and works with utilities, state agencies and other stakeholders to develop and implement payment programs, energy efficiency initiatives, and to promote the use new energy technologies. 

OPAE has helped develop of two nonprofit energy purchasing cooperatives:  the Energy Cooperative of Ohio, a certified natural gas marketer responsible for providing members with more than 2 Bcf of natural gas per year; and, the Solar and Renewable Energy Buyers Cooperative d/b/a/ SOAR Energy, a certified energy marketer, which currently provides natural gas service and Green Tags to over 3,500 members.

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